Don’t Tangle with a Toxic Person

Ever try to make things better and you only made things worse? Recently the JV cheer moms and I were sitting around waiting to make our appearance at an event. We were hot. I pulled out a hand-held battery operated fan to cool us down.  One mom didn’t really like

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What an Angry Snake Taught Me About Breakthroughs

Last Monday, I experienced a breakdown. It started with a “snake emergency.” A four foot rat snake was lounging in our garage. I was late for an appointment and the snake needed to leave before my daughter came home from school. Did I mention my husband was out of town? The snake was

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Why You Should Talk to Strangers

I recently spoke at a national convention in St. Louis.  I was so excited to speak in St. Louis because it was a great convention and also the city where I lived until I was 9 years old.  While there, I visited my childhood friend (pictured above), my elementary school and even my childhood

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Are You a High Performer?

When I was a sophomore in college, I spilled salad dressing on my formal dress. My dad said, “Just hold your flowers down and those ribbons will cover it. No one will notice.” Dad is always positive and has a solution. My dad, Col. Byron R. Byars, Jr., USA (Ret),

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How Leaders Can Help Their Teams Produce the Best Results

Really, this shouldn’t be funny – but I can’t stop laughing and shaking my head about it. I was recently at our neighborhood homeowners’ meeting where several of us disagreed with actions taken by our association leadership. Apparently, my words made one of my neighbors very angry. He wanted to make

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How to Avoid 5 Negotiation Mistakes

The first rule in successful negotiations is rarely discussed. To negotiate from a position of strength, you must look out for number one…YOU. Whether you run a business, a team or a household, you must consider your needs and well-being first before you can influence at a high level. No, you’re not being too

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Four Words to Help You Set Goals You Can Keep

How are your New Year’s resolutions holding up now that the year is half over?  Did you make any? According to research, only 45% of people make New Year’s resolutions and by now, 75% have abandoned them. To put the odds in your favor, stop using the word “resolution” and start using these four powerful words I discuss

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Are You Dressed for High Performance?

What would you do if you had an amazing opportunity and nothing to wear? Last week, I found out with very short notice that I’d be on FOX news in DC. Unfortunately, the jacket I brought with me was the exact color of the interview couch. Thankfully, I was attending

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Book Launch for The Manager’s High-Performance Handbook is TODAY!

Drivers start your engines!  Are you ready to lead like a champion? My new book The Manager’s High-Performance Handbook: How to Drive Winning Performance with Everyone on Your Team is officially released TODAY! If you want to purchase a book (or truckloads of them for everyone you know), they are available today for $12.95 from WalktheTalk.com. Whether you’re facing some

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How to Avoid Working with a Staller

My recent speaking engagement in New York City brought back memories.  At 18 I faced a major decision: do I stay in NYC  to pursue a dancing and acting career or attend college? After years of training and performing with a dance company, I wanted my decision to be right

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How to Deal with Real Work Drama

Last week I spoke at a convention with Captain “Sully” Sullenberger, the pilot who safely landed a passenger airplane in the Hudson River. That day he faced a surprise –true work drama. All Captain Sully had to do was walk out on the stage and we gave him a standing ovation.

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How to Work with a Know-It-All

“That will never work,” the senior partner told me during my first job out of law school. I had asked if we should call the opposing counsel. “Why?” I countered. “Phone calls won’t work,” he replied. “We only write letters. You won’t get anywhere. You’re wasting your time.” Sound familiar?

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